The Friends Cultural Centre (FCC), a Qatar Charity (QC) community development centre, has celebrated the graduation of 28 students from the Arabic for Non-Native Speakers (ANNS) programme in a ceremony held at the FCC headquarters.The list of graduates included both male and students belonging to different Asian communities residing in Qatar. The students studied the Arabic language for four months at the Beginning and Intermediate levels.Saleem Abdullah Mohamed al-Hamdani, volunteer in-charge of educational affairs and Arabic language at the FCC, expressed happiness at the graduation and congratulated the students, wishing them a prosperous future. He also hoped that their journey would continue through learning the Arabic language more deeply.Al-Hamdani said the FCC would expand the ANNS programme for new students to accept applicants in the morning shift of the programme next year, noting that this number is expected to increase by 20% over the next five years.Habeeburahiman Kizhissery, FCC director, spoke about the importance of Arabic and its role in building an educated and civilised society, pointing out that the language has significantly contributed to medical and engineering innovations.The students also praised the programme, calling it a valuable opportunity to enhance their knowledge of Arabic. Mostafa, a student, said: “It was an opportunity to improve my Arabic. I read the first novel in this language.”Sridevi, another student, added: “This was also an opportunity to know more about the Arab and Gulf cultures by attending events and workshops organised by the centre.”